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thooogy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 542
Location: 40.91N - 73.27W
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 Posted: 08/29/06 - 22:40 Post subject: NYC HALF-MARATHON 8/27/06
This summer I'm running 9 qualifying races to guarantee my entry into the 2007 NYC marathon. This race is #7.
This was a new race on the NYRR calendar. They hyped it up big-time, too, with live coverage on WABC etc. I haven't done a half since 1993 and since it was the inaugural run I thought it would be fun. The course is one full lap of Central Park (plus a bit more) then down 7th Ave to Times Square, turn onto 42nd Street, over to 12th Ave and head south along the Hudson River to Battery Park for the finish. Central Park is hilly but the second half is flat as can be.
I received an e-mail a few weeks prior to the race that based on my times this summer I qualified for one of the "preferred start" corrals. This was great - except I had to be in my corral 30 min before start time (7am). This ultimately meant I had to wake up at 4:30am (allowing for parking, etc.). The night before I couldn't sleep - just too damned excited - and I only got 3.5 hrs sleep.
Race morning was cloudy but cool (high 60s). I had one cup of coffee and one granola bar - my usual. I hadn't done any training specific to the half, just my 30+ miles per week that I've been doing all summer, with a few 10 and 12 mile long runs the last month. Most runs are at 8 - 9 min miles, and the other races I've run (speedwork I guess) were in the 7:20 - 6:50 range.
My PR was 1:53 but that was 1993. I'm about 30 lbs lighter now, and I run a lot more now. I knew I could beat my old time but I didnt have a specific pace in mind. I was hoping for a 1:44 or so (~8 min miles) at a minimum.
The first mile was 7:47. Felt easy, lots of people passing me (fine, let them). This turned out to be my slowest split:
1. 7:47
2. 6:55
3. 7:19
4. 7:06
5. 7:36
6. 7:30
7. 7:17
8. 7:08
9. (forgot to hit watch)
10. 13:59 (miles 9 & 10)
11. 7:24
12. 7:11
13. 7:09
13.1 0:43
Total time 1:35:40 / Net time 1:35:15
Place: 635 / 10,294 overall
The last two or three miles my legs started to get a bit tired, but somehow I kept my pace. The flat course helped. It started pouring about mile 10 and in the 42 races I've run this was the first where it rained. It wasn't as bad as I thought, just a bit cold. I felt good the entire race, not winded but running a fast pace.
I had a great time running the race. Even to a jaded New Yorker like me it's a blast running straight down the middle of seventh avenue. And when I saw pictures of the course and how crowded parts were i realized I must have been ahead of the bulk of the pack (I can get used to this).
It was weird getting a finisher's medal for "just" a half, but again, the NYRR is trying to make this into a big-time race. I would definitely do it again next year (I guess I'm a small-fish-in-a-big-pond-kinda-guy after all). I had some achy hamstrings and quads but no big deal. I checked the BAAs site and saw I need a 3:15 to qualify - that's 7:27s. My marathon pr is only 4:04 but who knows - maybe I will! 
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 05:13 Post subject:
Nice consistent pacing. Looks like a BQ may be in your future...good luck
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JUJR
Grunt
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Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 1970
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 07:00 Post subject:
WoW  you done good!
sometimes, when I've slept the least, I have my best running days...go figure. 3.5 hrs isn't alot of rest 
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robp
Pyromaniac
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Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16241
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 07:34 Post subject:
Nice job Thoogy.
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19384
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 11:01 Post subject:
| robp wrote: | | Nice job Thoogy. |
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16217
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 11:36 Post subject:
excellent job! you really outdid your "goal time".
that's a fantastic half 
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 11:42 Post subject:
Wow, most excellent! Sounds like you had a good time.
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Kimba90
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 11:50 Post subject:
Great race!!!
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Molly600
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 14:08 Post subject:
Wow, great race!
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Floridaboiler
POTFH
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Joined: 18 May 2002
Posts: 11322
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 20:01 Post subject:
Nice Job!
You ran a nice solid race and had fun, you can't beat that.
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TimRuns
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Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 10062
Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 20:57 Post subject:
Nice PR and great improvement! Looks like 3:15's within your reach
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thooogy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 542
Location: 40.91N - 73.27W
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Posted: 08/30/06 - 23:43 Post subject:
Thanks, guys! It's nice to be getting faster at this stage of the game. It caught me by surprise this summer how my times have dropped, but between my weight loss and mileage increases it makes sense.
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roughausen
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Location: Ohio
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Posted: 08/31/06 - 08:56 Post subject:
Congrats on a great race! Are you going to be running NY this year as well?
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thooogy
Member
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Joined: 16 Jul 2005
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Location: 40.91N - 73.27W
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Posted: 08/31/06 - 15:52 Post subject:
No, I didn't make the lottery for this year. That's why I'm planning ahead and guaranteeing my entry to next year ('07). Right now I feel hungry for a marathon but I'm trying to be patient. Plus, I gotta start stretching, crosstraining, etc - I still have my work cut out for me.
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runaroundsue
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Joined: 18 Sep 2002
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Location: supporting GREENer pastures
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Posted: 08/31/06 - 23:14 Post subject:
looks like at your rate of improvement-- you might get into NYC on guarantee by time!!!! Which is way, way, way more of an accomplishment than a BQ.
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